Updated 9 July 2021
We carried out this announced inspection on 10 June 2021 under section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission, (CQC), inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following questions:
• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• Is it well-led?
These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.
Our findings were:
Are services safe?
We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services effective?
We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Bottesford Dental Practice is in the Leicestershire village of Bottesford and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes two dentists, four dental nurses, and one receptionist. The practice has two treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.
During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, two dental nurses and one receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday 9am to 5pm
Tuesday 9am to 6.30pm
Wednesday and Thursday 8.30am to 4pm
Friday 8am to 12pm
Saturday and Sunday Closed
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
The provider had infection control procedures which mostly reflected published guidance; though some improvements could be made.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available. Some medicines were not stored safely.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. Majority of staff, though not all had completed safeguarding training.
- The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
- The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
- Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
- Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- The provider had effective leadership. Improvements could be made to governance procedures.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The provider had information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Take action to ensure that all the staff have received training, to an appropriate level, in the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
- Improve the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices, and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’. In particular implement weekly protein tests of the ultra-sonic cleaner.
- Improve the security of prescription pads in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor their use.
- Improve the practice's protocols for medicines management and ensure all medicines are stored and dispensed of safely and securely.
- Improve and develop the practice's current performance review systems and have an effective process established for the on-going assessment and supervision of all staff